Geoelectrical and Microbial Assessment of the Agbarho Abattoir Effluent on Ground Water Quality in Agbarho Community, Delta State

The effluence of Agbarho abattoir wastes and animals’ dung on near surface groundwater quality was geoelectrically investigated using 2-Dimensional Electrical Resistivity by engaging Wenner array configuration using PASI-16GL Terrameter. Four traverses of lateral distance of 50m with 2.5m electrode spacing were gotten from the study area and the acquired data was processed and inverted using RES2DINV software so as to delineate the trend of migration of contaminants. Borehole-water samples were collected within the study area for both physiochemical and microbiological analyzes while the depth of aquifer (groundwater) was determined by employing Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES). The 2-Dimensional Inversion model for traverse 1 and 2 revealed a low resistivity value of 0.445Ωm and 2.53Ωm respectively and this occurred at the top soil. Also, the low resistivity value of 0.319Ωm in traverse 3 was indicated in the second layer at the lateral distance between 15m to 35m and at the depth of 6.22m. The model in traverse 4 revealed low resistivity value of 0.374Ωm from the top layer down to the fourth layer at the depth of 9.8m. These low resistivity values indicate high conductivity of bacterial and algae of the animal waste and this can be attributed to the presence of suspected contaminants plume of the abattoir. The depth of aquifer revealed by Vertical Electrical Sounding was 8.9m which is in third layer and the lithology was found to be as fine sand. All physiochemical results including pH value which is 5.1 (acidic in nature) fell below the permissible limit of World Health Organization (WHO). The microbial result showed the total coliform count value as 70 cfu/ml which is not in-line with WHO standard. In conclusion, the study showed that the contaminant exists and pose threat to groundwater in the study area.